Interest-Rate Fears Dwindle
Ahead of ECB Announcement

European shares ended higher Monday, with investor hopes for an economic recovery in the euro zone offsetting concerns about the outlook for interest rates.

The Bank of England and the European Central Bank are to announce their monetary policy decisions Thursday. The ECB is expected to leave rates unchanged, while the BOE is expected to announce a quarter-point tightening after its two-day meeting, which begins Wednesday.